Adjustable seatpost assembly

Abstract

A seatpost assembly having: a first portion configured to include a seat; a second portion displaceable relative to the first portion in a retracting direction to a first position and an axially extending direction to a second position retracted relative to the first position; and an active motive force to drive the displacement. The range of displacement is between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, with a mid-stroke position between. Preferably including an external actuator that is functional to convert the motive force into linear actuation of the displacement. Preferably where the motive force is provided from manual manipulation applied externally to the seatpost assembly. Preferably including an external controller, where incremental manipulation of the controller corresponds to incremental axial displacement. Preferably including a latching mechanism to selectively restrict the axial displacement.

1 . A seatpost assembly comprising:
 a first seatpost portion;   a second seatpost portion that is axially displaceable relative to said first seatpost portion along an axial axis in a retracting direction of increasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a first axial position; and in an axially extending direction of decreasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a second axial position that is axially retracted relative to said first axial position;   a motive force to drive said axial displacement;   wherein said range of axial displacement is between a fully extended axial position and a fully retracted axial position, with a mid-stroke axial position therebetween;   wherein said second seatpost portion is configured to include a seating surface;   wherein said motive force is an active motive force applied to actuate said second seatpost portion in one of said extending direction and said retracting direction;   including an actuator functional to convert said motive force into linear actuation of said axial displacement; and   wherein said actuator is external to said seatpost assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuator may be selectively controlled to selectively displace said second seatpost portion in said extending direction. 
     
     
         3 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 2 , including a controller link between a controller and said actuator, wherein said controller link serves to communicate said selective control of said controller with said selective control of said actuator; wherein said controller is remotely positioned from said seatpost assembly and communicates with said actuator by at least one of a mechanical connection, a hydraulic connection, and an electrical connection. 
     
     
         4 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said mechanical connection includes a rod that may be linearly shuttled within a sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said hydraulic connection includes hydraulic fluid that may be displaced within a hose. 
     
     
         6 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said controller may be manipulated to selectively control said motive force to displace said second seatpost portion said mid-position. 
     
     
         7 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said controller includes a hydraulic master cylinder and said seatpost assembly includes a hydraulic slave cylinder, including a hydraulic link with hydraulic flow between said master cylinder and said slave cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said master cylinder includes a piston that is displaceable within a cylinder to variably adjust the hydraulic volume of said master cylinder, wherein said variable adjustment is advanced and/or retracted by linear displacement through a lever. 
     
     
         9 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 1 , including a controller, wherein said controller is remote from said seatpost assembly and said controller may be manipulated to provide said motive force, wherein said controller is a ratcheting controller, such that said controller may be displaced in an actuation direction and in a bypass direction opposed to said actuation direction, wherein said controller provides said actuation in said actuation direction without providing actuation in said bypass direction. 
     
     
         10 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 1 , including a controller, wherein said controller is remote from said seatpost assembly and said controller may be manipulated to provide said motive force, wherein said controller is a rotary controller, including said manual manipulation about a rotary axis. 
     
     
         11 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said controller includes a spool, including a control rod that is circumferentially wrapped around said spool, wherein said spool is manually manipulated to reel-in and/or reel-out said control rod. 
     
     
         12 . A seatpost assembly comprising:
 a first seatpost portion;   a second seatpost portion that is axially displaceable relative to said first seatpost portion along an axial axis in a retracting direction of increasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a first axial position; and in an axially extending direction of decreasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a second axial position that is axially retracted relative to said first axial position;   a motive force to drive said axial displacement;   wherein said range of axial displacement is between a fully extended axial position and a fully retracted axial position, with a mid-stroke axial position therebetween;   wherein said second seatpost portion is configured to include a seating surface;   wherein said motive force is an active motive force applied to actuate said second seatpost portion in one of said extending direction and said retracting direction;   wherein said motive force is provided, at least in part, from an external source that is external to said seatpost assembly; and   wherein said external source includes manual manipulation.   
     
     
         13 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said manual manipulation is selectively applied to correspondingly and incrementally advance said axial displacement in at least one of said extending direction and said retracting direction. 
     
     
         14 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 12 , including a controller, wherein said controller is remote from said seatpost assembly and wherein said controller may be manually manipulated to provide said motive force to advance said second seatpost portion in said extending direction. 
     
     
         15 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 12 , including a controller, wherein said controller is remote from said seatpost assembly and wherein said controller may be manually manipulated to provide said motive force, wherein said manual manipulation is bi-directional such that manipulation in a first direction serves to provide axial displacement in said extending direction and manipulation in a second direction serves to provide axial displacement in said retracting direction. 
     
     
         16 . A seatpost assembly comprising:
 a first seatpost portion;   a second seatpost portion that is axially displaceable relative to said first seatpost portion along an axial axis in a retracting direction of increasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a first axial position; and in an axially extending direction of decreasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a second axial position that is axially retracted relative to said first axial position;   a motive force to drive said axial displacement;   wherein said range of axial displacement is between a fully extended axial position and a fully retracted axial position, with a mid-stroke axial position therebetween;   wherein said second seatpost portion is configured to include a seating surface;   wherein said motive force is an active motive force applied to actuate said second seatpost portion in one of said extending direction and said retracting direction;   including a visual feedback indicator that corresponds to said axial position; and   wherein said visual feedback indicator is remote from said seatpost assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said visual feedback includes a sequential numerical representation, wherein said sequential numerical representation corresponds to a sequential advancement of said axial displacement in at least one of said extending direction and said retracting direction. 
     
     
         18 . The seatpost according to  claim 16 , wherein said visual feedback indicator is in a controller comprising a first controller portion having a first indicator marking and a second controller portion having a second indicator marking, wherein said first controller portion is displaceable relative to said second controller portion such that said visual feedback indicator includes the relative alignment of said first indicator marking relative to said second indicator marking. 
     
     
         19 . A seatpost assembly comprising:
 a first seatpost portion;   a second seatpost portion that is axially displaceable relative to said first seatpost portion along an axial axis in a retracting direction of increasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a first axial position; and in an axially extending direction of decreasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a second axial position that is axially retracted relative to said first axial position;   a motive force to drive said axial displacement;   wherein said range of axial displacement is between a fully extended axial position and a fully retracted axial position, with a mid-stroke axial position therebetween;   wherein said second seatpost portion is configured to include a seating surface;   wherein said motive force is an active motive force applied to actuate said second seatpost portion in one of said extending direction and said retracting direction;   wherein said motive force is provided, at least in part, from a controller external to said seatpost assembly;   wherein said controller may be selectively manipulated to meter said motive force;   wherein an incremental manipulation of said controller corresponds to an incremental axial displacement.   
     
     
         20 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said motive force serves to selectively and incrementally advance said axial displacement to a mid-stroke position. 
     
     
         21 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said motive force may be selectively manipulated in a first direction to incrementally advance said axial displacement in said extending direction and may be manipulated in a second direction opposed to said first direction to incrementally advance said axial displacement in said retracting direction. 
     
     
         22 . A seatpost assembly comprising:
 a first seatpost portion;   a second seatpost portion that is axially displaceable relative to said first seatpost portion along an axial axis in a retracting direction of increasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a first axial position; and in an axially extending direction of decreasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a second axial position that is axially retracted relative to said first axial position;   a motive force to drive said axial displacement;   wherein said range of axial displacement is between a fully extended axial position and a fully retracted axial position, with a mid-stroke axial position therebetween;   wherein said second seatpost portion is configured to include a seating surface;   wherein said motive force is an active motive force applied to actuate said second seatpost portion in one of said extending direction and said retracting direction;   including an actuator functional to convert said motive force into linear actuation of said axial displacement;   including a latching mechanism operable between a latched position to restrict said displacement of said second seatpost portion and a released position to permit said axial displacement of said second seatpost portion;   wherein said motive force serves to control the operation of said latching mechanism between said latched position and said released position.   
     
     
         23 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said latching mechanism has an input portion and an output potion, wherein said motive force is applied to drive said input portion and said output portion provides a motive force to actuate said axial displacement, including lost motion between said input portion and said output portion, wherein said lost motion serves to at least one of (i) actuate said latched position, and (ii) actuate said released position. 
     
     
         24 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said actuator serves to axially displace said second seatpost portion to a predetermined axial position, wherein said latched position is actuated by achievement of said predetermined axial position. 
     
     
         25 . The seatpost assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said latching mechanism includes at least one of a check valve, and a spool valve to control hydraulic flow.